Ubuntu 24.04 Fake Update
A fake Ubuntu update screen for pranks: the purple background, the Ubuntu name, and one orange dot stepping along a row of five. There are no settings. Press Fullscreen and it runs until you stop it.
Tip: double-click the screen to go full screen. The toolbar and mouse pointer are hidden in full screen. Esc exits.
Choose a system
How this screen behaves
The Ubuntu name sits in the middle of an aubergine-purple screen. Under it are five small dots. One dot at a time turns orange, moving from left to right, then the sequence starts again. Nothing else on the screen changes, so it looks like a system that is working on something and not saying how long it will take.
The Ubuntu 22.04 version shows the same loading screen.
How to run the prank
- Open this page on the target computer.
- Press Fullscreen, or double-click the purple screen.
- Tell the owner you "upgraded them to the new Ubuntu".
- Press Esc to end it.
About Ubuntu 24.04
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, code-named Noble Numbat, was released in April 2024. LTS stands for long-term support: these releases arrive every two years and receive security updates for years, which is why many people stay on them. The previous LTS was 22.04, Jammy Jellyfish, from April 2022.
Real Ubuntu updates do not take over the screen like this. They are installed from the Software Updater app or from a terminal with sudo apt update followed by sudo apt upgrade, and you can keep working while they run. A full-screen splash normally appears only for a short time while the computer starts or shuts down, which is exactly why one that never goes away is a good prank.
Ubuntu 24.04 fake update FAQ
Does this install or upgrade Ubuntu?
No. It is an animation shown in your browser. It does not install, upgrade or change any operating system.
Why are there no settings?
The screen has no percentage or timer to adjust. The dots repeat until you exit.
How do I close it?
Press Esc to leave full screen, then close the tab.
Does it work on Windows and Mac?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser, so you can show an Ubuntu screen on a computer that has never had Linux on it.
More tools
- Fake Windows 11 UpdateThe black Windows 11 update screen with a rising percentage.
- Fake Windows 10 UpdateThe blue "Working on updates" screen.
- Fake Windows XP UpdateThe blue "Installing Windows Updates" screen from XP.
- Fake Mac UpdateBlack screen, logo and a slow progress bar.
- Fake Chrome OS UpdateThe "Firmware updating" screen for Chromebooks.
- Ubuntu 22.04 Fake UpdateThe purple Ubuntu screen with its row of loading dots.
- Fake Android UpdateA system update screen for phones and tablets.
- Hacker TyperThe classic: mash any key, get lines of kernel code.